Selector-switch.



A. H. DYSON.

SELECTOR SWITCH. I APPLICATION FILED AUG.25. l9l5. 1,1 92,1 75. Patented July 25, 1916.

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APPLICATION FlLED AUG.25. 1915. 1,1 92,1 7 5. Patented July 25, 1916.

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Me Alfred hf Dyson 'Affy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED H. DYSON, 0F MONTCLAIR. NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SELECTOR-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J nly 25, 1916.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ALFRED H. DYSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mont-clair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selector- Switchcs, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic telephone switches, and particularly to multiple brush switches of the panel type such as shown in Patent No. 1,123,696.

The principal object of this invention resides in the improved means for controlling the operativeness or activity of the several brush sets carried by a single movable suport.

p In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view with parts broken away, of a switch showing one form of the invention; F ig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side view with parts broken away, of a modified form of theinvention; Fig. 5 is a view of the upper end of the structure of Fig. 1 taken at right angles; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a detached view of the brush selecting means; Fig. 9 is a view of the same device shown in a differently operated position; and Fig. 10 is a section on the line 1010 of Fig. 4.

The switch disclosed in the present invention may be substantially the same as that shown in the patent above referred to, except as to the brush sets and brush selecting means.

In the present invention, no means is provided for spacing the brushes of the sets I apart so thatthe brush set will thus be rendered inoperative. On the contrary, the several brush sets of a switch normally 0ccupy positions slightly to 0ne side of the corresponding rows of contacts in the terminal bank, and means are provided for rotating the brush set, which it is desired to use, into a position such that upon longitudinal movement of the brush shaft, the brushes of the set will be caused to traverse the contacts in its section of the terminal bank.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 represents the brush shaft upon which is rotatably mounted a plurality of sleeves 2,

which are prevented from longitudinal movement on the shaft by means of the collars 3 and 4 fixed to the shaft. Secured to each sleeve 2 in any suitable manner is a brush set 5 which, in the present disclosure, consists of four brushes maintained in slightly spaced relation by means of the insulating blocks 6. Carried by the sleeve 2 is a disk-like member 7 provided with a pair of ratchet teeth or stops 8 and 9. Integral with the collar 3 is the member 10, one end of which is provided with a downwardly extending pin 11 which is normally engaged by the stop 8 on the disk 7 to limit the rotation of the sleeve 2 on the shaft 1. Secured to the opposite end of the member 10 is a pawl 12 arranged to engage the ratchet tooth 9 of the disk 7 to maintain the brush set in its inoperative position, such as shown in Fig. 2. Mounted about the collar is a spring 13, one end of which is fixed to the collar and the other end of which is secured to a finger 14 secured to the sleeve 2 in any desired manner. This spring tends to rotate the sleeve 2, and, therefore, the brushes mounted thereon, in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed from above.

Rotatably mounted in the frame parallel to the shaft 1 is a trip rod 15, which is provided with a plurality of projecting lugs 16 arranged at progressively increasing distances above the normal positions of the rearwardly extending portions 17 of the pawls 12. The rod 15 is arranged to be rotated by means of a trip magnet 18, the armature 19 of which, on attraction, engages the lug 20 fixed to the rod 15. Also secured to the rod 15 are a plurality of lugs 21 which are so arranged that, when the shaft is in normal position, they will engage the fingers 14 on rotation of the rod 15.

The shaft 1 may be prevented from rotating during the brush selecting operation by any desired construction, such as a spline or square portion thereof, or even by means of the rectangular elevating strip 22 being engaged by one of the frame members.

The operation of this form of-the invention is as follows: The shaft 1 is moved upward a number of steps corresponding to the brush whichit is desired to select. This causes the portion 17 of the pawl 12 of the desired brushset to be positioned opposite the corresponding lug 16. Th trip magnet then rotated in an anti-clockwise direction under the influence of its spring 13. When the brush set reaches its operative position, further movement thereof is prevented by the stop 8 engaging the pin 11. The brushes of the selected set are now caused to traverse the terminals in their respective section of the bank in a manner which is clearly disclosed in the above mentioned patent. The selected brush set is returned to its normal .osition, after the shaft 1 has been returned to normal, by again energizing the trip magnet 18, causing the lug -21 to engage the finger ll, thus rotating the brush set in a clockwise direction to its inoperative posltion, where it is held by the pawl 12 engaging the ratchet 9.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, the brush shaft 23 is longitudinally and rotatably mounted in the frame, and 15 secured to the elevating bar 2& by a swiveled connection which consists of the sleeve 25 fixed to the shaft 23. The lower end of this sleeve receives the cylindrical extension 26 carried on the upper end of the bar 24. The member 26 is maintained within the sleeve 25 by means of the spring fingers 27, which are secured to the bar2l and engaged overthe upper end of the sleeve 25.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft 23 between the collars 28 and 29 are a plurality of sleeves 30, to each of which is insulatively secured, in any desired manner, a set 31 of brushes. Secured to the sleeve 1s a ratchet wheel 32 arranged to be engaged by .arcuate cam member 36.

the pawl 33 pivotally secured to a PIO]eC tion on the collar 29. A s ring 34 having one end secured to the co lar 29 and the other to the pawl 33, tends to urge the lower end of the pawl toward the shaft 23. Positioned about the upper end of the collar 30 is a spring 35, one end of which is secured to the collar 29, the other end being secured to said sleeve. This spring tends to rotate the sleeve in a clockwise direction as viewed from above.

Secured to the frame adjacent to each brush set, when in its normal position, is an Extending upwardly from each cam member 36 is a cylindrical portion 37, provided near the upper edge thereof with a cam-like projection 38. These cams 38 are arranged at progressively increasing distances from the pawls 33 when in their normal position, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

secured to the frame adjacent to each brush set. when in its normal position, is a bracket 39 provided with a pair of projections 40 and a l. Extending downwardly from each ratchet wheel 32 is a pin 42, and projecting to engage,

from each collar 28 is a pin 43. The pin 42 projecting from the ratchet 32 is arranged during different portions of the operation of the switch, with the pin 43 and also with the projections 40 and 41.

Secured to the shaft 23 near the upper end thereof is a friction disk 44:. The power drive disk 45 is arranged to be attracted into operative engagement with the disk 4-& by the clutch magnet i6. Also secured to the shaft 23 near the upper end thereof is a disk 47 having a serrated edge arranged to engage an anti-friction member carried at the end of an interrupter spring 48. On rotation of the shaft, the spring 48 is caused to move into and out of engagement with the spring 49, causing one interruption for each brush tripping or brush selecting position of the shaft 23. Also secured to the shaft 23 near the upper end thereof is a ratchet wheel 49, arranged to be engaged by the pawl 50 pivotally mounted in the lug 51 secured to the frame. When in its normal position, the upper end of the pawl 50 is en-. gaged by a disk 52 on the shaft 23 and is thus held in its retracted position. When the shaft takes its first ,upward step or movement, however, the disk 52 moves from engagement with the pawl 50 and allows the pawl to be forced into engagement with the ratchet wheel 49' by the spring 53.

The operation of the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings is as follows: When the switch is in its normal position, the several brush sets occupy a position to one side of their respective rows of terminals in the terminal bank, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing. At this time, the several pawls 33 are maintained in their retracted or inoperative po- 1 sition by reason of the engagement of the lower end thereof with the cam members 36. Upon operation, the switch is first moved upwardly one step. This releases the pawls 33 and allows them to come into engagement 1 with their respective ratchet wheels 32. The clutch magnet 46 is thereupon energized, causing the switch shaft to be rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. When the shaft has been rotated a number of steps 1 equal to the number of the brush set which it is desired to select or to use, the pawl 33 of this brush set will be positioned immediately below its respective cam member 38. During this rotary movement of the shaft, the brush set has been prevented from rotating by the engagement of the pin 42 with the pro ection 40. The brush shaft 23 is now moved upwardly another step, when the pawl 33 of the selected brush set engages 1 its cam 38 and releases the brush set. This upward movement has also moved the pin 42 from engagement with the projection 40, and the brush set is rotated by the spring 35 until the pin 42 engages the projection 1 41, which rotation will bring the brush set into operative relation to its section of the panel bank, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Upon continued upward move ment of the brush shaft, the pawl 33 of the selected brush set passes out of engagement with the cam 38 before the pin 42 passes out of engagement with the projection 41. The pawl 33 thereupon engages the ratchet wheel 32 and maintains the selected brush set in its operative position during the selecting movement of the switch. As only one of the pawls 33 engaged the cam 38, the

remaining brush sets of the switch remain in a position at one side of the row of terminal contacts, as shown in Fig. 6, the pawls having engaged the ratchet wheel 32 before the pins 43 were moved from engagement with the pins 42.

Upon restoration of the switch to its normal position in a manner similar to that shown in the patent above referred to, the disk 52 at the upper end of the shaft engages the pawl 50 and releases the shaft 23, which is thereupon rotated back to its normal position by means of the spring 54, one end of which is secured to the casing 55, the other end being secured to said shaft. During this rotary movement, the pin 43, carried by the collar 28, engages the pin 42 of the re- .leased brush set and rotates said set back to its normal position. This is permitted at this time as the outwardly projecting end of the pin 42 is now positioned below the inwardly extending end of the projection 40. As the shaft reaches normal, all the pawls33 are retracted, but this movement is without effect at this time as the several brush sets are held rotated in their inoperative osition by means of the pins 43 engaging t eir respective pins 42.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic telephone switch, a longitudinally movable brush shaft, a plurality of brush sets mounted thereon, a series of stationary contacts for each brush, means normally maintaining said brushes in an inoperative position at one side of their rows of contacts, brush selecting mechanism, and means for operating said'mechanism to permit a desired brush to assume its operative position.

2. In an automatic telephone switch, a longitudinally movable brush shaft, a plurality of brush sets rotatably mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary contacts for each brush, means normally maintaining said brushes in an inoperative position at one side of their rows of contacts, brush selecting mechanism, and means for operating said mechanism to permit a desired brush to assume its operative position.

3. In an automatic telephone switch a brush shaft, a plurality of brush sets rotatably mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary contacts arranged to be traversed by each brush, a pawl and ratchet device for each brush normally maintaining said brush in an inoperative position at one side of its row of contacts, a brush tripping mechanism, and means for operating said mechanism to permit a desired brush to assume its operative position.

4.- In an automatic telephone switch, a brush shaft, a plurality of brush sets rotatably mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary contact sets for each brush set, a pawl and ratchet device for each brush set normally maintaining the brushes thereof in an inoperative position at one side of their rows of contacts, a tension device for each brush set tending to rotate said set to its operative position, brush tripping mechanism, and means for operating said mechanism to retract the holding pawl of a desired brush set to permit said set to assume its operative position.

5. In an automatic telephone switch, a brush shaft, a plurality of brush sets rotatably mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary contacts for each brush, means normally maintainingv said brushes in an inoperative position at one side of their rows of contacts, means for rotating said shaft, means for moving said shaft longitudinally, and means dependent on the degree of rotation of said shaft prior to the longitudinal movement thereof for selecting a desired brush set.

6. In an automatic telephone switch, a 100 brush shaft, a plurality of brush sets rotatably mounted on said shaft, a series of stationary contacts for each brush, a holding pawl for each brush normally maintaining said brush in an inoperative position at one 105 side of its row of contacts, a tension device for each brush tending to rotate it to its operative osition, means for rotating said shaft to se ect a desired brush set, and means operated by the subsequent longitudinal 110 movement of said shaft for.actuating the holding pawl of the selected brush to permit said brush to assume its operative position.

In witness whereof,,I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of August A. D., 115 1915.

ALFRED H. DYSON. 

